Erik L. Dorr is the founder and curator of the Gettysburg Museum of History and the guiding force behind the Gettysburg Museum of History Foundation. A fourth-generation Adams County resident, Erik’s roots trace directly to Ziegler’s Grove—his family’s farm, Pfeffer farm was on the site of Pickett’s Charge where many of the earliest artifacts in the museum’s collection were originally found.

From childhood, Erik developed a passion for preserving history, beginning his first World War II collection at just nine years old. Over the decades, he assembled one of the nation’s most significant privately held collections spanning the Revolutionary War through modern conflicts.

His lifelong mission has been to ensure that these treasures and the stories behind them remain accessible to the public free of charge. Erik is well known in the historical community through frequent television and media appearances, including The Weapon Hunter, American Pickers, Pawn Stars, and numerous documentary features. He also reaches millions worldwide through his recurring role in The History Underground’s popular American Artifact series.

Today, Erik leads the museum and the Foundation with a singular purpose: to preserve, protect, and expand this extraordinary collection for future generations. His work ensures that Gettysburg, a place of national memory, continues to inspire, educate, and connect visitors with the people and events that shaped America.